토트넘, 유스 시절 제라드 영입 시도..리버풀 떠날 때 포체티노도 연락

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[OSEN=강필주 기자] 레인저스를 이끌고 있는 스티븐 제라드(40)가 현역 시절 토트넘 유니폼을 입었다면 어땠을까.

8일(한국시간) 영국 매체 '이브닝 스탠다드'는 토트넘이 제라드와 계약할 기회가 두 차례 있었지만 모두 실패했다고 전했다. 제라드는 피터 크라우치(39)가 진행하는 '백 오브 더 넷(Back of the Net)'에 출연, 토트넘이 자신을 영입하기 위해 노력했지만 인연을 맺지 못했다고 전했다.

비슷한 유스시절을 보낸 크라우치는 제라드가 데뷔하기 직전 토트넘과 경기에서 처음 만났다. 크라우치는 "박스 끝에서 때리고 볼은 다리 사이로 잘 다루고, 누군가를 때리고 크로스바를 때리는 한방을 쐈을 때 '잠깐, 얘는 뭐야?'라고 생각했다"면서 "나는 당시 토트넘 회장이던 앨런 슈가가 경기 후 당신과 함께 걸어나가던 것을 봤다"고 밝혔다.

이에 제라드는 "리버풀은 그 경기 후 내게 다른 종류의 계약을 제안하기 위해 상당히 빠르게 움직였다"고 말해 토트넘의 영입 제안이 있었다는 것을 암시했다. 그러자 크라우치는 "나도 몇년 동안 토트넘에 있었지만 슈가 회장과는 한 번도 이야기를 나누지 못했다"고 놀라워했다.

제라드는 앞서 2015년 출간한 두 번째 자서전 '마이 스토리'에서 토트넘의 제안이 있었다고 털어놓았다. 제라드는 2014-2015시즌을 끝으로 LA갤럭시로 이적했다. 

제라드는 "첫 제안은 베식타시(터키)를 이끌던 슬라벤 빌리치 감독이었고 AS모나코가 다음이었다. 그들은 아주 공격적으로 영입 제안을 했다. 파리 생제르맹(PSG)도 아주 가까웠다. 당시 레알 소시에다드 데이빗 모예스 감독은 여러 차례 에이전트에게 전화를 걸어 뛸 수 있는지 물었다"고 밝혔다.

특히 제라드는 "EPL 구단 몇 군데도 연락이 왔다. 하지만 리버풀을 상대로 경기를 하지 않을 생각이었다. 그 중에는 토트넘의 마우리시오 포체티노 감독도 있었다. 나를 여전히 평가해줬다는 것을 알게 돼 좋았다"면서도 "프리미어리그에서 1년 더 뛸 수 있다고 확신했지만 토트넘과 함께 해서 문제를 크게 일으키고 싶지는 않았다"고 설명했다.

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